Solenoid actuated interrelated locking means for flow controls in a plurality of independent channels



y 1957 G. D. HENDRICKS ETAL 2,798,917

SOLENOID ACTUATED INTERRELATED LOCKING MEANS FOR FLOW CONTROLS IN APLURALITY OF INDEPENDENT CHANNELS Filed Aug. 26, 1954 INVENTORS 6,DONALD HENDRICKS GEORGE LELAND RAMBO F LL cjc/ -m Attorney United StatesPatent The invention relates to solenoid actuated interrelated means forlocking any one of a number of control devices, each controlling flowthrough its own channel, either in the position to permit flow, or toprevent flow, through that channel.

The invention is applicated to a plurality of channels each carrying afluid and provided with a valve controlling flow of fluid through thechannel, or to a plurality of channels each carrying an electric currentand provided with a switch controlling the flow of current through thechannel.

The essence of the invention lies in solenoid actuated means that will,upon actuation of the control device of one of a plurality of channels,lock that control device in actuated position and, in so doing, willrelease any other control device previously locked to allow each ofthese other control devices to assume its original position.

The invention provides a series of compact relay units, each actuated byits own solenoid, and so designed that upon actuation of a relay thecircuits to be closed are closed without rebound of one contact relativeto the other, avoiding the sending of an interrupted current that mightcause devices to respond several times when only a single response isintended.

Thus, where it is desired that only one channel shall be in operation ata time, one channel may be closed or opened and the act of placing thatchannel in that condition will take the other channels that have beenpreviously placed in that condition out of that condition.

The channel may be placed in operation by sending a current through arelay. The relay will then actuate the control device in that channeland, in so doing, will lock itself in actuated position and remain inthat position even though the current through the relay ceases. Further,in the act of locking itself, the relay will release any other relays inthe group that have been previously locked.

One of the advantages olfered by the use of such interrelated controllatching means is that the current on a relay need not be maintainedafter the relay is latched. If the current had to be maintained on arelay to hold it in activated position heat would be generated whichwould have serious drawbacks where the relays are in a closedcompartment and the current may flow through the relays for hours at atime.

A distinctive feature of the present invention is that the circuit thatis closed is closed with less chance of bouncing of the movable contactengaged in the closure relative to the fixed contact, than in existinginterlocked relays. Any sensitive device in the circuit, responsive toeach current flow, will not erroneously be caused to respond more thanonce to a single actuation of the relay.

The invention is illustrated by channels whose control devices aremechanically interrelated.

In a modified form of the invention all the channels in a group functionexcept one channel, and upon actuation of a relay connected to anotherchannel, that other channel will become inactive and the act of latchingthat channel in the inactive position will cause all other channels thatare not already closed to function.

Fatented July 9, 1957 The invention may be applied to transmissionsystems feeding power or signals over a single channel that branches oilinto a number of channels each leading to a ditierent power actuateddevice by placing a control device in each of these channels and closingthe circuit to one of the relays to establish a circuit through onechannel. The current to the relay need only flow long enough to lockthat relay and open the relays on the other channels so that only one ofthe devices receives current.

The mechanical device that unlocks the other controls or switches isvery much simpler than electric circuits to achieve the same result.Such circuits are shown in Figure 6 in an application entitledReplacement of a Plurality of'Channels by a Single Channel, filed onSeptember 2, 1953, by Donald Hendricks et a1. and bearing Serial Number378,057.

While interrelated relays have been known, the invention provides a morecompact and novel apparatus for accomplishing the desired end than hasbeen hitherto available.

The object of the invention is to provide simple means whereby thelocking of the control in one of a plurality of channels will unlock thecontrols in the other channels without requiring continuous currentthrough a relay.

A further object of the invention is to actuate the switch in one of aplurality of electrical circuits, the act of actuating the switchlocking it in its actuated position and automatically releasing any ofthe switches in the other circuits that were previously locked.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanical interlockingmeans for a plurality of relays, each relay so designed as to reduce theweight of the armature and its range of motion to minimize the tendencyof the closure of that circuit to be subject to interruption byvibration.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a unit showing four circuitswhich illustrates the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken along lines 2-2 in Figure 1 showinga circuit latched.

Figure 3 is a partial vertical section taken along lines 3-3 in Figure 1drawn to a larger scale.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of one of the units.

Figure 5 is an elevation, similar to Figure 2, showing a modification.

The invention will be illustrated by describing an electrically actuatedgroup of switches in a plurality of channels.

There may be any number of solenoid actuated units; four units A, B, C,D are shown by way of illustration. As the units are duplicates of eachother, only unit A will be described in detail.

A base 1, supported on pads 2,- carries units A, B, C, D.

The base 1 may be a metal stamping having portions 3 at each end thatare bent upward to form posts. At least one of these posts 3 has ahorizontal extension 4. A rod 5 passes through holes in each'of theseposts.

A pawl-plate 6 has upturned ends 7, each end being pierced to allow rod5 to pass through these ends. Thus the plate acts as pawl, see Figure 3,that swing about rod 5. A coil spring 8, under light tension, has itsends attached to the pawl-plate 6 and the extension 4 to bias the pawl 6to turn clockwise in Figure 3. The pawl may have an extension 9 topermit manual movement of thepawl.

The solenoid actuated units are designed to be compact, light in weightto facilitate prompt movement of the parts, with contacts so arrangedthat once a circuit is closed or broken, there will be no blurring byvibrating or bouncing contacts.

, 3 Each ofthe units A, B, C, D has a. plate .IOattached to the basewhich has a vertical section 11. Supported on this plate is a U-shapedstamping 12 having vertical legs 13, 14. The stamping 12. may havean'orientation hole into which the end of plate fits as-shown insectionin Figure 2. Leg 14 extends upward and carries a horizontal pivot 16.This U-shapedpiece 12 also supports a solenoid :19. -An armature 11for=thissolenoid, has ears 18 thatpivot at16. :The armature has arearward extension 21. -A tension spring 22- has its ends connectedrespectively, to this: extensionandto the-lowerpart of leg 14.This-spring tends to lift the right hand end of the armature, as seen inFigure 2. Tolimit the upward motion'of the armature,=it is pro- '-videdwith a holethrough which the-bentstop 23, attached to-leg 13 of the-U-shaped. piece extends.

The-armature 17 also carries a slot 24 thrdughwhich -the latch ba r- '25extends. I The lower end of the latch bar is guided by'hole 27 in base.1..:'The.n pper-end of the latch bar carries a finger 26 that rests onthe a rrn ature so-that, as the armature is elevated by spring 22,

- the'latch bar-too will be elevated. --The latchbar has a -notch 28,and a recess 29 separated -by arise30. -The pawl 6 is adapted to resteither in notch 28 or inrecess 29 but is-rocked by the rise 30 as thelatchLban-moves downward-so that the-pawlthat was in recess-29 will bearagainstnotch 28.

- An insulating plate is attached to vertical leg 11 of plate 10.

This plate, as shown in Figure 1, carries two terminals 33, 34 that-areconnected to lines 31, 32-leading to solenoid 19.

which; the switch-arm .41 is mounted. The switch ar m carriescontact42.

It-will be obvious thatifthe holes 27 in thebase 1 arestamped along aline, and the plates -10 attached to the base in such alignment thateach upturned end of the plate will place the orientation-hole of eachstamping 12 in the same position relative to oneof the holes -27, theseveral units A, B, C,;D may be duplicates.

The stamping 12 -places the pivot -16 close to the sole- -n0id -19,providing ashort, light, armature 17.

The electrical circuit is closed orcpened by a-single contact 42carriedby switch arm 41 which engages either contacts -38 or 44.

Since the distance of contact 42 from the pivot 16 is comparable-to thedistance the solenoidaxis is from -the pivot,-only a small rockingmovement of the a rmature is needed which cuts the efiect of inertia.

U In-a modified form the insulatingplate 35 al so-carri es an additionalbent plate 43 having a termina1 45 and a I contact 44.

A terminal 46 carried by plate :35 is connected -by a cable 47 to switcharm 41.

: Whenthe device is installed,-each circuit is connected withterminals37 and '46 in oneof the units A, B, C, v D. To complete the circuit, thearmature must be in its latchedposition with pawl 6 lying againstnotch'28.

Each-of the solenoids 19 is connected through its terminals 33, 34-witha circuitthat is energized whenthat circuit which is connected to thatpair ofterminalsis 60 to be connected up and the other. circuitsinterrupted.

' After the various terminals havethus been connected up, the extension9;of the pawl is manually elevated which allows each armature to riseand carry its-latch bar upward so that the pawl 6 enters recess-29bfthelatch bar ofeach unit.

the latch bar in that unit total andin 'so doing, the

rise 30 will rock the pawl 6 to releasing position. 'If

4 any other unit is, latched, this, will..,release the armature of thatcircuit and break that circuit before the latch bar engages notch 30 andthus locks that switch 41.

Even though the current through the solenoid ceases, ,the latched relaywill maintain that circuit totransmit any current or any signals thatmay besent over the circuit closed by switch 41. i

Obviously if the piece. 36gwas connected. to each of the circuitsthrough terminals 46 and 45, the device can 10 be used in the samemanner to keep all buttone circuit closed and to permit the opening ofanyone circuit by energizing the relay in that 'circuitjvhich will'close any switch in the other circuits that have been previouslyrepelled.

a 1 Or,,if1b0th, terrnina1s;37;,and 45 are.;conne.ted making .theswitches actuated by arm ,41'.' .do uble throw swi ches,=- hedevice..mayhez sedtorthrow.:alL butthe circuit that is being switchedfrom...0ne 0f:; the ;;,d0nble 0: thr 0W; pQSit lOnS to, thenother.

In the modification shownvin Figure 5,,;the, armature 17 of, the relaycoil. 19, is1 connectedtothe stem of the valve 50. Thisvalvemaybesupplied withfluid through a line 51 and mayin oneposition,connectthe line 51 to line 52 leading to some device and, in the other,po-

7 sition mayhcutoflf the flowinto 1ine 52. In the.latter position-the;fluid may ,-be-..drained, ,out..of line 52,.to, a sump.thr ough. linev53. -,It will bevunderstood that valve 501maybe of any othertype.

,In, this modification, ifwthesolenoidulilvin Figure, 5

-is actuated, it is locked as previously described and .the valve 50 isplaced in its other position and held'there. The act .of locking will.release,,in the manner ,already described, ,.the ,armatures 17.connected to the other valves in the. other channels.

. We claim:

-.A low-inertia. multiple relay,; having, in ,combination,

, a base plate, a.,plurality. 10f duplicate ,units mounted on said baseplate, arU=shapedlstampingin,eachof said units, a solenoid mounted onthe, base of each ,U.-shaped 1stamping,..an,armature pivoted on one armof. each stampinghaving a slot through which ahookedexten- .sion on the.other; arm .ofthestamping. extends to, limit ,the movement. of.thearmature, avsecond slot in each .armature, aguide hole .in the base.below each of said warmatureslots, a, latch bar.which hooksrinto thesecvond slotinithe armatureand extends into aguide hole,

two ,notcheslon each. latchbar, a raised portion between ;.said..notches, a pawlbanhinged on the base and biased -so; that thelongitudinal edge "of vthe. .pawl .bar' enters one rot saidnotch'esjmthe .latchbarlconnectedtto an actuated armature and into the other notchin the. latch bars con- .nec'ted .to non-actuated .armatures, a spring.lbiasing ,each

.. armature,. a contact .bar.carriedl.byathe .armature .and

55.;extendirig to a pointatleastia's far distantfrom thearma- ...turevpivot as. theaxis lofthe solenoid. hutin the opposite ;i.direction,.a.stationary contact engaged .by ,said contact nlbar;;wh en. theactuation of. the. solenoid. has .moved the latchbar .so .that.the pawl,bar. enters the. propernotch 6 and in the movement of thellatch barthepawl bar has been rockedto release theJatch bars oi the otherarmattures.

'References .Cited. in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS6862,08 1 Lorimer v,J uly 30, 19 07 1,083,810. Engberg -QJan. 6,1914 11,534,010 T.-.Clark"e a ;11,I19'26 1,643,415 Moore ,Sept. 27,-.19272,114,968 Neinet a1. '-;A r. 19, .1938 "2,146,269 ;P uerner' Feb.'7,1939 2,405,319 IMcMaste'r t at. Aug... 6,119.46 2,471,181 .wi1s6n Ma 24;19.49

- aronnrom rArnNrs 946,652 France Dec; 27, 1948

